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View Full Version : What salt do you use?


agent007
02/27/2007, 09:55 PM
When I started my tank I used Coralife marine salt because that's what my LFS gave me. I then switched to Instant Ocean because it was easier to get at my local Petco (5 minutes from the house). Then I found the joys of online ordering :smokin: I have seen the Reef Crystals product for some time. They say they have some helpful additivies already in the mix. Makes for easier tank maintenance. Instant Ocean has been working pretty well for me but if there's a better product, I think I owe it to my tank critters :fish1:

What is the preferred synthetic salt product out there:
- Coralife
- Instant Ocean
- Reef Crystal

clayspst
02/27/2007, 09:55 PM
instant ocean

mosesbrown
02/27/2007, 10:01 PM
I use instant ocean and it has been fine. I am thinking of changing to reef crystals also, but need more information to know it is worth the extra $$$$. From talking to LFS that sell water they use Tropic Marin and they say that is top of the line. I do not know, good new is they were not just trying to sell me something (I think). I look forward to watching this post. Thanks, John.

saturn tech
02/27/2007, 10:04 PM
i use purified NSW. found it is more convenient then mixing the salt myself.

mosesbrown
02/27/2007, 10:06 PM
NSW? Is that Natural Salt Water?

saturn tech
02/27/2007, 10:06 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9354044#post9354044 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mosesbrown
NSW? Is that Natural Salt Water?

that would be correct.

Radioheed
02/27/2007, 10:09 PM
i use reef crystals (which is actually made by instant ocean)

it seems to be a very balanced product

agent007
02/27/2007, 10:21 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9354076#post9354076 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Radioheed
i use reef crystals (which is actually made by instant ocean)

it seems to be a very balanced product

I didn't realize that. The Reef Crystals appears to be the enriched product then. It's only a $2 difference for the 160gal mix. I just wanted to be sure it's as good or better than the Instant Ocean.

coyoteseven
02/27/2007, 11:17 PM
I use IO and RC... whichever happens to be on sale at the time. :D

drummereef
02/27/2007, 11:27 PM
Instant Ocean. I bolster the calcium by 70ppm at water changes.

SushiChef
02/27/2007, 11:34 PM
Instant Ocean.

Paintbug
02/28/2007, 08:32 AM
Kent Marine here.

HammerDude33
02/28/2007, 08:34 AM
instant ocean...for the free t-shirts :smokin:

IkevinI
02/28/2007, 09:09 AM
i just switched to from IO to Reef Crystals. The only difference is that RC mixes around 410 ppm for calcium and IO mixes at around 350. Rc also has a higher Alk but i dont remember the exact numbers.

J. Montgomery
02/28/2007, 09:57 AM
Tropic Marin

HammerDude33
02/28/2007, 09:59 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9356305#post9356305 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IkevinI
i just switched to from IO to Reef Crystals. The only difference is that RC mixes around 410 ppm for calcium and IO mixes at around 350. Rc also has a higher Alk but i dont remember the exact numbers.
my calcium is always high using IO. closer to 500. :confused:

custarring
02/28/2007, 10:11 AM
Oceanic natural salt mix here.

cowboyswife
02/28/2007, 10:20 AM
I use Instant Ocean, and my calc is high too.

adambaron
02/28/2007, 11:42 AM
Tropic Marin

adambaron
02/28/2007, 11:43 AM
Tropic Marine

punk*star
02/28/2007, 03:37 PM
Instant Ocean.

lakwriter
02/28/2007, 04:11 PM
Instant Ocean.

mikeatjac
02/28/2007, 04:18 PM
TM Reef here. Mixes with no junk at the bottom of the trash can.

blufyre3
02/28/2007, 08:33 PM
I have recently tried rc and io. Tropic Marine was used by the previous owner of the tank for years. I'm switching back. I have noticed small differences in my brain coral and plate. Nothing else is showing an issue.

steeldeep
02/28/2007, 11:00 PM
instant ocean for Two years calcium Was very high. Now I use tropic marine. My tank is doing much better .

agent007
03/01/2007, 12:04 AM
Tropic Marin? Did I put that on the list? Who put that on the list? :)
Now this is another one to consider.

What merits does Tropic Marin have?

* Contains ALL 70 trace elements found in natural seawater, in the exact proportions found in nature
* All elements are completely soluble due to the use of the mixed-crystal method

Using current sale prices that I found:
Tropic Marin at $50 for 200gal container: ~25 cents/gal
Iinstant Ocean at $30 for 160gal container: ~19 cents/gal
Reef Crystal at $32 for 160gal container: ~20 cents/gal
Coralite at $30 for 150gal container: ~20 cents/gal

Price wise, they're all in the same ball park.

blufyre3's coral are probably perking up from the buzz they must be getting from Tropic Marin's 70 trace elements. :bum: That might make the it worth the few extra cents/gal.

Have you found that you add less additives (or less frequent doses) with the Tropic Marin?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9363191#post9363191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by steeldeep
instant ocean for Two years calcium Was very high. Now I use tropic marine. My tank is doing much better .

Steeldeep, do you have a FOWLR tank?

silverarrow27
03/01/2007, 12:13 AM
Coralife and never had a problem. Was thinking about switching salt this summer just to try something new as it's quite hard to find Coralife where I live.

mikeandjenn99
03/01/2007, 06:35 AM
Red Sea or Seachem Marine salts

agent007
03/12/2007, 07:45 PM
I jordered my usualy Instant Ocean but I going to try Tropic Marin for my next order. I'm curious if I'll have any noticeable improvements over Instant Ocean. Thank you all for you input.

agent007
07/29/2007, 07:06 PM
I am ready to make another order for salt. I'm going to go with Tropic Marin.

adalon
07/29/2007, 07:11 PM
reef crystals parameters always stay stable

bjkramer
07/29/2007, 07:12 PM
One thing I've heard on a few occasions that I am considering is to mix it up. Use a variety of salts, each is slightly different and by mixing you get a little bit of all the mixes.

[17]shawn[17]
07/29/2007, 07:16 PM
Instant Ocean or Reef Crystal but now only Reef Crystal i picked up 8 bags 10$each :dance: here they are usaly 40$a bag

scotmc
07/29/2007, 07:50 PM
RC..

Jrmass
07/29/2007, 07:51 PM
Well, I first started with IO... Found that it didn't allow my Calcium to be near the levels I wanted. Then went to Red Sea Pro. Where it put my calcium levels between 480-520 after changes of 15-20%. Which was a bit higher than I wanted now I'm experimenting with RC. Where my levels have tapered back a bit. But, I personally am finding that RC seems to be more constant/scoop than the IO was. And the Red Sea was just about the same levels every single time I would make a batch across the board. I just found that my calcium was a bit higher than I was hoping. A person probably could do a mix between one of the other brands with it.

Just my experience.

pammy
07/30/2007, 05:54 AM
I've only used Tropic Marin (tank has only been set up for 3 months). Mixes up great, but calcium is low... about 320-340. I'm thinking of trying Reef Crystals when I run out of Tropic Marin because I'd prefer to not have to dose my tank to get my calcium up.

Savas
07/30/2007, 07:39 AM
I use instant ocean and dose calcium. There is a good study on the salts in the Archives section somewhere. I also saw a study on RC that listed the salts the Tank of the Month used. IO was the winner and that is why I switched.

At some level though, I think it is all what your tank is used to and what you dose.

Grins
07/30/2007, 12:18 PM
50/50 mix of IO and Oceanic

Savas
07/30/2007, 01:49 PM
I also use Morton's and the salt left over from the winter if money gets low from buyin' too much beer or tippin' the honeys at the dance club. :) I just throw in a couple multi-vitamins and I am good to go. :)

WDWDen
07/30/2007, 01:51 PM
I use some no name stuff from the LFS. I am going to be switching also. Its not a problem to just start useing a new brand of salt?

Grins
07/30/2007, 02:23 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10445672#post10445672 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Savas
I also use Morton's and the salt left over from the winter if money gets low from buyin' too much beer or tippin' the honeys at the dance club. :) I just throw in a couple multi-vitamins and I am good to go. :)

:eek:

reefworm
07/30/2007, 02:58 PM
FortyFathoms/Crystal Sea for bioassay research
www.aquaticeco.com

mix for 150 gals $40.68 shipped

meco65
07/30/2007, 03:19 PM
I use RED SEA.

machinas
07/30/2007, 08:49 PM
Originally a Tropic Marin user, tried Red Sea Coral Pro, hated it, it caused so many things to go wrong. Back to Tropic Marin, no need to dose anything, Keep my SG at 1.026 and I know all my levels are where the should be, it dissolves like on contact with the water too. Great stuff

Ryanhdd
08/07/2007, 04:53 PM
Tropic marin is all i have ever used and have not had any problems with my tank. I really like it and can tell that it is a very good product. i will continue to use it.

barngeatbayman
08/07/2007, 07:05 PM
where are you buying reef crystals for $32 for a 160 gallon pail? Cant find it that cheap anywhere.

Roger928
08/07/2007, 07:52 PM
Instant Ocean for over 25 years. Reef Crystals mixes a bit higher in Calc and Alk. BTW, the Petsmart in my area is about $10 cheaper than Petco for 160gal. bucket.

rommdog76
08/07/2007, 09:36 PM
instant ocean works good for me.

woodman24
08/07/2007, 10:08 PM
Seachem

Savas
08/08/2007, 06:09 AM
Is there any benefit to mixing all three of them into a single batch - any thoughts that this would somehow blend in better chemical concentrations?

Savas
08/08/2007, 06:20 AM
One other thought on cost: the actual use cost of each salt is actually higher than what the bucket lists because the salt concentration mixed on most salts is 1.021 - 1.023 and many of us keep our salinity at higher levels. The materiality of the cost is obviously a function of use. For me, with only doing 8 gallon changes monthly, salt cost is not really a factor.

Zann
08/08/2007, 06:23 AM
im going to try seachem this time i have been useing rc

George Grogan
08/08/2007, 07:39 AM
Instant Ocean... so far, so good!

agent007
08/08/2007, 10:36 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10502572#post10502572 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by barngeatbayman
where are you buying reef crystals for $32 for a 160 gallon pail? Cant find it that cheap anywhere.


foster and smith. It's $34.99 now

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4856&Ntt=salt&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

agent007
08/08/2007, 10:44 AM
Just for the record I am very happy with IO. I have to use additives to keep the calc and alk up but it has been working fine. I'm not looking for a salt that I don't have to boost the calc, alk, etc. just one that
may some how be better for the critters.

I read a lot of positive things about Tropic Marin. One point being; great Coral growth when using Tropic Marin. Granted, there could be other factors but I'll give it a shot.

I got my first bucket of Tropic Marin a week ago. I'll start using it in a few weeks, after I finish my last bucket of IO.

tazzmanian123
08/08/2007, 12:06 PM
Tropic Marin now. Started with Coralife & had precipitation issues.
switched to Tropic Marin, & love it.

Lord Sevein
08/08/2007, 12:47 PM
I've been using Instant Ocean since I started my tank and I love it!

steeldeep
11/02/2007, 01:26 PM
I use tropic marine. My tank is doing much better .

cmejaf30
11/02/2007, 01:45 PM
i've used IO in the past. i've found that it's hard to keep the pH steady after water changes. I usually have to drop the pH because it is usually high. i've also been told that IO has very high Pb and Cu traces but i've found contradicting evidence to this. anyone heard anything about this? my LFS guy showed me an article showing that it had very high doses of copper (Cu) and lead (Pb). I've been using oceanic in my new 55 which is working good so far. let me knwo if anyone has heard anything bad about IO. I have a 160g bucket of IO here that i haven't been using because of what he said...if it's all good then i'm going to start using that again.